U.S. to Expand Passport Revocations for Parents Owing Child Support

New policy will allow State Department to revoke passports without waiting for renewal applications.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. government is expanding a program that allows the State Department to revoke the passports of parents who owe significant amounts of child support. Starting soon, the department will begin revoking passports on its own initiative based on data shared by the Department of Health and Human Services, rather than waiting for someone to apply to renew their travel document.

Why it matters

This policy change is aimed at cracking down on "deadbeat parents" who are delinquent on child support payments. The program has already collected nearly $621 million in past-due child support since it began in 1996, but the expansion is expected to affect thousands more people who owe child support.

The details

Under the new policy, the State Department will first target passport holders who owe more than $100,000 in past-due child support. Those individuals will be notified and given a chance to enter into a payment plan with the Department of Health and Human Services to avoid having their passport revoked. However, the threshold is expected to be lowered over time, which could significantly increase the number of people affected.

  • The new policy will go into effect in the near future, though an exact date has not been announced.
  • Since the Passport Denial Program began in 1996, it has collected nearly $621 million in past-due child support payments.

The players

U.S. State Department

The federal agency that issues and manages U.S. passports, which will be revoking passports of parents who owe significant child support.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The federal agency that will be sharing data on delinquent child support payments with the State Department to facilitate the passport revocations.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The State Department will first target passport holders who owe more than $100,000 in past-due child support, giving them a chance to enter into a payment plan to avoid revocation. The threshold is expected to be lowered over time, potentially affecting thousands more people.

The takeaway

This policy change represents an escalation in the federal government's efforts to collect unpaid child support by leveraging the ability to revoke passports. While the program has already brought in hundreds of millions, the expansion is likely to impact many more delinquent parents who may now face significant travel restrictions until their debts are paid.